Mail-marking or canceling machine.



' YNo. 896,834. PATBNTED AUG. 25, 19oa`.

I'. c. IBLIIELD. MAIL MIIRKIIIG 0R GAMBLING MACHINE.

.APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27, 1907.

unirnn strings PATENT onirica! FRED C. IELFIELD, OF SILVER CREEK, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO COLUMBIA POSTAL SUPPLY To all whom fit/may concern: l

to be rotatable in a horizontal plane, the

Specication of Letters latent.- Patented Aug. 25, 1908.

COMPANY, ORSILYER CREEK, NEW YORK, A vGORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

I MAIL MARKING OR CANCELING MACHiNE. Y

Application iiiea February 2r, 19er. sriai No. 359,681.

Be it known that I, FRED C. IELFIELD, a. l citizen of the` United States, residing at Silver Creek, in. the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Mail Marking or i Canceling Machines, of .which the. following is a specification.

This invention relates to a mail marking or canceling machine and has the object` t0 simplify and improve the construction of the mechanism whereby the printing, postnnarking or canceling of the letters or other mail matter is effected and also to provide eflicient and reliable mechanism of improved construction whereby the letters or pieces of mail matter are fed tc the printing mecha-n` ism. y -i In the accompanying drawings consisting of 2 sheets: Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of uinail marking machineembodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are cross sections in the correspondingly numbered lines in Fig. 2. Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentai'yliorizontal sections, on an enlarged Scale, taken in line 6-7, F ig. 3, and showing different positions of the devices whereby the operation of the printing mechanism is eontrolled.

Similar letters of referenceiildiyate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

A represents the horizontal table upon the central, front and rca-r portions of which are respectivelyinoiinted the devices for printiinr or canceling the lettcis or pieces of mail matter a, the feeding mechanism whereby stack or pile to the printing mechanism, and the stacking mechanism whereby the letters are again gathered in a bundle, pile and stack Y after they. have been printed.

The feed iiicchnnisin of my improved mail marking machine is constructed as follows: B re .reseiits a horizontal feeding disk or Wlice which is arranged iii/a circular recess b in the receiving portion of the table so that its npperside is flush with the top of thisv table and practically forms a continuation or pnrtthereon. This feeding disk is journaled on the upper end of a vertical arbor c so as lower end of this arbor beino' secured toca cross 'piece or bridge C which is connected side wall section F. the letters are fed successiveljT from a bundle,

with the underside of the table on opposite. sides of the recessb. On the upper side of the feeding disk a pulley d is formed thereon or secured thereto so as to rotate therewith. Around this pulley passes the receiving porL tion of a feedin and driving oe-nd or belt D of leather or ot er yielding material which around a deliver Y ullev dl which is arraned above the table in rear of the printing mechanism and is secured te the up end of an upright shaft E which is journa ed in a-bearing on the adjacent portion of the table.

F' represents the -front section of an u right side wall which extends ta 'entially across the upper side of the feeding c isk and lengthwise of the machine-and/is secured to Y the adjacent partV of the table so that its vfront or left side is iiush or parallel with the front cr left side of the operative portion of the feeding Abeltad jacent to the receiving pulley c'. This relation of the side wall section F and the feeding diskis made possible by cutting away or recessing the rear portion of this section, as shown at f in Fig. i, and I arrangnff the adjacent portion of the feeding belt iii t is recess. In rear of the feedin disk and in front of the face of the side wa section F is arranged transversely a front vwall G which is secured to the ripper side of theV table so. as to leave a. passage-'way or. throat between the inner end of 'this front wiill and the face of the feeding belt and the.

The bundleor sta-ck 0f letters or pieces of .inail matter to be'canceled is placed in a vertical position up'on the operative portionof the feeding disk andthe adjacent portion of the table in rear of the saine, the fre-nt edges of these letters, excepting the inner ones 'engagin with the front side or face of the f ron't wall and the innermost letter engaging flatwise with the adjacent portion of the feeding belt and 'the side wall section F. TheA operative lportion of the feeding disk niov'es forwardly or in a direction lengthwise ward theface .of the side wall section'F 'in' rear of the axis ofthe feedinfy disk.

contact of the saine with '105 .on the machine and also laterally inward By this movement of 'thefeedinff disk, the frictions] l .the lower edges of 11p leters constantly tends to move the i luminose forwzird toward the front G also lenerslly in 4'ard against lthe fees of the eide- Weh section F. While in this position the innermost or foremost letters .A y s the right side oi the steel., bundle or pig Hf' A ere successively .led oil` .from the pile to t pr ing mechanism.

ln order to hold the pile in an upright Dosiand assist the feeding disk in moving the pile laterally toward the sido Wall section F so' as to compensate for the gradual redlicion in the. size ofthe pile as the letters are oli' iront'. the same, a pressing device is :idod which tends constantly to hear st the orner or left side of the. pile and i the seine inwardly iownrd the face 0f feeding heit and the side well section F. messing devies preferably consists of a siihsnntislly lengthwise of the table .L innge...linlly relatively to the feedinor disk sin: o these ports, an upright spindle h jonrneled in me iront portion of the. table carrying presser erm et its front end, erin 'i secured to the lowerend of this de, and s spring il connecting the rock the adjacent part of the table., as how-n in Figs. l, 2 and 5. The rear end of hi.: lresser armengeges with the outer or et side of the mile of letters on the adjacent art or' the feeding disk :and table and under he action oi the spring il constant y presses Hdl; against the pile so ns to hold the in in en uprigit posit-ion and d: ide-ct itself to the constant variation in the niisnocr ci' .letters in the stack.

fhen the snp ly of letters in the stack is nearly exhausted the attendant withdraws the presser erin outwardly and places en additionel hatch of letters between the same sind those already on the feeding disk o nd table. To prevent undue outward movenient of the presser erin a stop lz' is provided which is preferably so located on the table that it is eniiged by the outer side said' erm at the .ree end thereof when this arm reaches n position parallel with the operative portion of the feed belt and the side woll section Ffss shown by full lines in Fig. 2.

As euch letter in turn reaches the foremost or innermost position on the ile and bears with its sidefagoinst the face o the i'e'ed belt and the wall section F, the saine is operated upon by a feeding device which moves the same forwardly from the pile, through the throat or passageway between the front wall G :md the side woll section l" und the feeding belt and to the printing mechanism. This feeding-off device preferably consists of a feedin or wiping finger or psd J constructed of rnb er or other elnsticina'teiialmid mount ed 0n a horizontally rotating disk j arranged on the right sideof the letter path adjacent to the delivery portion of the feeding disk l.zontellv swinging resscr arm H ar.

and wall section F. The disk y' is'mounted on the upper end 4of the vertical shaft K which is journeled in e, hearing on the adjacent portion inv the table. During each rf tation of the feedino'foil' finger or wi er the 70 same engages with t ieright side of t ie foreA most letter in the stack and by its movement, in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2, feeds this letter forwardly from the pile through the thront and to the printing inech 75 anismr' l In order to permit the feeding-olf finger to carry away only one letter at a time ineens are provided for retnrdingor separating the letters of the stock adjacent to the foremost 30 one. The means for this purpose shownin V the drawings preferably consists of two separntiinv fingers or tongues Z of rubber or similar flexible material lwhich are arranged oblijuely across the letter path Within said S5 throat andl on opposite sides of the path or sweep of seid feeding-oif finger. The foreni'ost letter of the stuck while being acted upon by the feeding-off finger delleets the separating lingers and moves forward to the rioting mechanism without interference rom said separating fingers.A The second. letter of the stack which tends to move forwardhv by frictionl Contact with the foremost letter is however held back by the sepa.- rating` inl'ers with which the ront edge of I the se'oniletter engages, AtherebyV )ermitting only the foremost otter to be fed from 'the pile or stack to the printing mechanism.

inasmuch as the they con more bodily toward the lef t of the letter path under the action of the letters.

F or this purposeeuch of the separating lingers is secured on its rear sido vto o. supporting arm Zx and these arms nre in turn secured to the inner end of a transversely movable slide or rod L which is guided in lugs m. on the rear side of the'front wall G and yicldingly. moved inwardly so es to Iproect the separating lingers across the pnt i o the letters bynieans of e. spring m interposed between n s mulder on the slide rod ani one of the guide lugs thereof, es shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

Ai ter the letters pass beyond the fi-.edingolf 'and separating devices, the foi-wurd movement of the sonic toward tthe printing mechanism is continued by means of the feeding belt engaging with the right side of a letter mld a rcsser roller n which `cmgogcs y' with the lcl't sido of the letter inunediatcly in rear of the separating device. This presser roller is mounted on the free end of n horizont-ally swinging rock :mn N which is pivotcd on the unda-Iside of the trible und vielding'ly moved in the direction for holdirig the presser roller against the feeding belt b means of n spring u* conncctml :it one end' with the table orvotla'er stationary port while ,its opposite. ond is connected with a lng n on itters very in thickness 100 vthe separating fingers ere so mounted that -the hub of the rock arm, as shown in Fig. I. The adjacent' portion of the table is slotted, as shown at n3, through which projects the free portionA of the roc r arm N on which the presser roller is mounted. As the thickness of the letters or pieces of mail matter which are fed forward to the printing mechanism varies, the presser roller moves toward and ffroni the beit under the action of these pie'ces to accommodate itself to the same.

The printing mechanism which receives the letters from the feeding mechanism and 'which cancels or postmarks the same is con- 5 structed as follows: O represents the horizontally rotating printing wheel arranged on the left hand side of the letter path in rear of the presser roller n and provided on its periphery with a die or type o1 of any suitable character, whereby a postmark is produced upon the letters as they pass successively between the peri )hery of the printing wheel and the face of t 1e feeding belt. The die ma f be supplied with ink by means ci an l ink rol er oz or by any other suitable means.

in line with the printing wheel is arranged a horizontally rotatable supporting roller P which is mounted on the upper end of a vertical arbor, post or pin rising from a rock arm p. The latter is pivoted on the under- A.Side of the table so as to swing horizontally fand the pin p supporting the roller P on the- 1s retracted toward the right and out of the pathhof the die on the printing wheel, as

i shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 6, so that the feeding belt receives no ink from the die and will not smut the right side of letters with which it subse uentlgyr engages. While in this retracte position the feeding belt 4engages with its ack or inner side against that por- -tionof the periphery of the supporting roller o pp'bsite'the printing w heel, thereby rotating fthe supporting roller by frictional contact Y Q represents 'a cylindrical shiftinghood, Vsleeve, shell or cam which incloses the periphery of the supporting roller and is provided with an opening or gap q in its side for A'exposing a portieri of the periphery of the supporting roller. When this hood is turned so t iat its gap or opening is transversely in l5 line with the axes of the printing-wheel and At the back or right side ofthe' operative portion of the feeding belt and transversely printing Wheel andthe feedingbelt, the latter' supporting roller, that portion of the latter directly opposite the printing wheel will be exposed to the feeding belt and the latter isA permitted to retract out of the path vof the die andinto engagementwith the exposed portion of the supporting roller, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. This is the position which the hood and the belt assume when no letter is being Afed to the printing mechanism, thereby avoiding snintting of the belt at this time. lf, however, the hood is turned so as to bring its solid part between the supporting roller and the printing wheel, it operates practically to'increase the diameter of the supporting roller and to shift the feeding belt to the left and into the path of the printing wheel die, as shown in Fig.' 7. The hood assumes this last mentioned position when a letter is fed forwardly between the rinting wheel and the feeding belt, whereby t ie feeding belt is caused to operate as an im ression surface or platen for supporting the etter in thc proper position relatively to the printing Wheel to receive an impression from its die.

The hood may be supported in any suitablemanner but preferably by meansof a head r arranged at its upper end and engaging with the upper end of the support-ing roller. The rear or trailing edge g* of the gap or opening of the hood engages with the belt 'immediately in front o the exposed portion of the supporting roller when the hood is in a position to permit the belt to retract into its non-printing position. ,By this means thebelt is enabled to rotate the hood by frictional contact therewith the invstant the latter is released, so es to interpose the solid part of the hood between thev su porting` roller and the feeding belt and` shift the latter into its printing positionl In order to cause the feed belt tebe in oved graduall by the hood toward the printing wheel, t e rear or @trailing edge ql of the gap or opening is curved or` beveled in the form of a cam,'as shownin Figs. 6 and 7, thereby avoiding sudden action of the hood on the `belt and also avbiding unduegvear of the lattr:-- i g For the pur isc of causing the belt to be moved latcraly fito-an o erative'position relatively to the printingweel when a letter is fed properly between the same foi receiving an impression and to permit saidbelt to retract into its inoperative position when no letter is beingI fed in proper position between pin T arranged in front ofthe supporting rac 4 i Q'seesi roller and adapted to be moved with its free end into the ath of said ta pet s for arresting the rotation of the hood) or to clear said 'tapoet and permit said hood to be rotated by iiietional contact with the feeding belt.

' u represents a trigger whiehis formed on or secured to the same hub which carries the controlling arm so that these parts rock horizontally in unison. This trigger is movable into and outof the path of the letters between the feed mechanism and rinting mechanism at the same time that t e controllin r arm is moved into and out of the path o? the tappet on the shifting hood.

The pivot pin T is connected by an arin t* with the u per lend of the arbor -p whereby the contro ing arm and trig er move laterally with the supporting rol er and shifting.

hood. The stop screw p is so adjusted that the arin p engages the saine and enables the die of the printing wheel to make an impression on the' thinnest lett-eis, cards or sheets .which are mailed but when thicker letteis- Yprojeets int-o 'the letter' patli and the latter into the tappet path by means of a spring iz connected at -one end with the hubof these parts and at its opposite end to a stationary part of the imieliine, the movement. of these parts in this direction being limited by means of a stop u secured to the post 'l and arranged in a position lo be engaged bythe controlling arm.

lVheii no letter is being fed to the printing 'mechanismr the trigger projects uci-oss 'the` letter path, and the controlling arin is zirgiigeinent with l.the hood at the rear edge of its gap or o ning while the latter is idle, now immediately rotates the saine and ing belt, whereby the belt and the letter reste. ing against the face. of the same are pushed lateradly sulli'cent-ly to enable the die of the. printing wheel to produce an impression on uit left Side if the letter. The periphery of 7gg' the supporting wheel engages frietionally with the boreof the hood, thereby aiding in' Astafrtiing the hood the instant the latter free and insuring reliable and prom t action' of the same. In order to sustain t e letter 'y while engaging its front edge against thejg* trigger and enable the same to reliably push' the trigger out of its path for releasing the shifting hood,V a guide ba'r or rail U is prvided which is arranged lengthwise on th'egu left side of the letter path and extends from the front 'wall G-ovei' the printing wheel,

thereby serving as a firm support for the let? ter while being moved forwardly a ainst the trigger. After he rear end of thed tappet by the spring nl, thereby arresting Y the shifting hood again inthe proper position in which the feeding beltis permitted to retract from the printing wheel and engageA the supporting w ieel.

ln order to cause the feeding belt to re-' main taut at all times and insure prompt retrai-.ting of the saine from the rinting wheel when no letter is between the eltand print-Y ing wheel, a belt tightener is provided which preferably consists of a roller 'v bearing against the idle portion of the feeding beltl'oo and mounted upon a rock arin V which 1s connected with' the table by means of a spring i1. After` the letters have been canceled or postimirki-d h v the printing mechanism, they are delivered upon the rear portion of the table on the leit side ol a rear side wall e.

tion l" thereon h v means of cooperating elivery rulli-is ir, it hearing against each other 45 ranged iii the path of the la ipet., thereby iiriii line with the feeding belt and in rear of the 110 resting the rotation of the sluiting hood, the printing wheel. The left feed .roller 'w isj relative arrangement ot the parts being such inouiited'on the free end of a rock arin W that this occurs while the gap or opening in u arranged hclowjhe table and pivoted therethe side of the hood is opposite the printing othis nrni heilig connected with a spring 50 wheel, whereby the belt is permitted to reu" which iiim'i\s tlie arm in the direction for 11S tract into its-noiiprinting position and into holding Vthe de l'iveilv Aroller iu vielding ly in engagement with the supporting roller, as engagement. with its cpinpanipn roller w. shown in Figs.A 2 and G.- Vl' hen a letter is fed 'llie table. is provided with a slet w through forward from the pile. toward the printing which projects the free end of the arm W on 55 mechanism, the front edge of the saine upon which the lett delivery roller w is mounted. 120 engaging the trigger dellecis the latter out of 'lhe right delivery roller 'w' is secured tp the the letter mth and at the suine time shifts upper end of thi-shaft E above thedehvery 'the eontrolling'a'rm out of the path of the pn leyd and its-diaiiieteris the saine as that tap .t.- The. instant this occurs, the feed iortion of the belt passing around the de#- ing iclt, whicliisconstantly in frictional e'nsaine. As the letters are delivered successivel by' etter has 55 cleared the trigger, the latter is immediately projected across the letter path and the controlling arm is swung into the path of'the the delivery rollers w, 'wf along the left si e of the rear side wall sec-tron F, the saine are v causes the solid pari. of the hoodto be ear- 6 ried between the supporting roller and feedmoved by the rotary cam arms z of a stacking wheel or ecker over the table toward the left of the si e wall section F and against a sliding 'abutment blocky in a manner well known in this type of machines.

Any suitable means may be employed for driving the several moving arts of the machine which have not alrea y been specifically described. In practice, the. sha-ft o3 of the printingwheel is utilized as the driving shaft and from this shaft motion is transmitted to the shaft K of the feeding oil1 finger b v means of a air Aof intermeshing gear wheels z, z. In like manner mot-ion is transmitted from the printing wheel shaft to the shaft E of the delivery pulley and rollerby a gear wheel .z2 on the shaft E meshing with that of the driving shaft. The shaft X of the packer is provided with a gear wheel 2 which is driven by means of an intermediate gear wheel z* from that on the delivery shaft E. The feeding disk, as shown, is driven solely by means of the feeding belt passing around the oulley d thereof, but if desired the same may e driven otherwise.

It will be observed that in my improved mail marking'machine the. printing Wheel rotates continuously but the effects are the same as in a machine in which the printing wheel starts and stops for each impression. The objectionable features common to this last mentioned construction are therefore avoided. Furthermore, the -means which control the. operation of the rioting mechanism are so constructed tiat the heavy work is all done. by the machine, the letter being Vonly required to operate the releasing device, thereby relievingr the letter from any heavy .work and permitting of post-marking or cancelinv" thin or weak letters without injuring the same as easily as letters which are thick or strong.

I claim as my invention:

l. A mail marking machine comprising a printing mechanism, means for feedingthe mail matter to said printing mechanism and a pressing device for pushing the mail matter transversely to ard said feeding means consistingofan upright rock shaft, a presser arm for engaging the mail matter secured to the upper end of said shaft, a roi-.k arm secured to the lower end of said shaft, and a-spring connected with said roi-k arm, substantially as set forth.

2. A mail marking machine comprising a printing mechanism, means for feeding the mail nmtter to said printing mechanism con sisting of a rotatable disk for moving the slm-.k of mail matter laterally, a rotating feeder which successively ad. ners the foromost pieces of mail matter in the stack, a

separator which operates to hold back thel rear pieces of mail matter in the stack, and a belt arranged transversely aboveV the disk and operating to carry the individual le ttersA ltially as set forth.

after being se arated from the' stack to ,the

printing mec anism, substantially as set A mail marking machineA comprising a. lettervfeeding belt, front and rear pulleys supporting the receiving and delivery parts of-said belt, a'printing wheel arranged opposite the face ofthe operative part of said belt,

and let ter controlled means engaging with thebaci` of the operative part of said belt and adapted to move the same toward the printing wheel, substantially 'as set forth.

4. A mail marking machine comprising a print-ing wheel, a feed belt whereby the letters are. earried lengthwise past said Wheel, and means for moving said belt laterally toward and from the printing wheel consisting consisting of a printing wheel, a supporting roller arranged opposite the printing wheel,

amovable hood inclosin,,1 said roller and having an opening for exposing part of the roller, and letter operated means for controlling the position of said hood, substantially as sot forth. f y

'6. A mail marking machine comprising a. feed mechanism, and a printing mechanism consisting of a printing wheel, a supporting roller arranged opposite the printing wheel, a rotatable hood inc-losing said roller and having an opening in its side for exposing,

part of the periphery of said roller, a movable trigger projecting normally across the letter path, a controlling arm connected with said trigger, and a tappet arranged on said hood and adapted to engage said controlling arm, substantially as sol. forth.

7. A mail nmrkiug machine comprising a iced meclmoism, and a printing iin-.chanism consisting of :i printing wheel, a supporting roller arranged opposite tho printing wheel, n. rotatable hood inclosiug said roller und having :in opening in its side for exposing part of tho periphery of said roller, n. movable trigger projecting normally across thc letter path, a controlling arm connected with said trigger, n lappet arranged on said hood und adapted lo engage. said controlling arm, a spriug'opcratiug toniovo the trigger into the letter path and tho '.iiutrolling arm into the path of said tappet, and n stop for limiting the movement of said trigger and controlling arm under tho action of sind spring, substan- 8. A mail marking machine comprising a -lcttor carrying holt arranged on one 'sido of the letter path, and' a printing moclmnism consisting of a prntig whee arranged on f 1 LL` the opposite Siae of me letter pato, a suporting roller engaging vit-h the bock of sind .1t opposite the rintmg Wheel, a eylindrica hood mounted ooseiy on the supporting roller so as to inclose the simio and provided vwith an opening in its side for exposing pari,

of the. periphery of said roller, u tappe arranged on said hood, a pivoted controiling arm movable into and our of the path of said 'tappet., anda trigger roatabie with said firm -into and out of he letter path, lsubst-imtiaiiy as'set forth. Y

9. -A mail marking machine comprising a letter carrying beit arranged on one side of the letter path, and a printing mechanism 'consistinv of a xrinting 'wheel arrzmf'ed on .C v D the opposite side of the etter pat-h, a, supout of the path of -i in roaabie with said erm let-ter path, sais antis'ijf e.

Witness my hand igs ary, 1907. 

